Bathroom tile ideas

Bathroom tiles are bathroom design heroes. Their versatility is unmatched by any other decorative component - they're at home on floors, on walls, in alcoves and as surfaces. Plus there are endless styles to choose from, whether you're after plain clay or more decorative encaustic Moroccan-style examples, there's a tile out there for every design whim. Being waterproof and hardy they are of course perfect for bathrooms - nothing beats the striking appearance of a well-appointed group of tiles. From simple subway designs to elaborate mosaics, here are out favourite bathroom tiling ideas...

Samuel and Caitlin Dowe-Sandes, the owners of Moroccan tile company Popham Design have decorated their riad, in the heart of Marrakesh's medina, using tiles of their own design. Red and white floor to ceiling pattern makes for an impactful shower room.

The colour palette used throughout Caroline O'Donnell's London flat is pared back, but with a few well-placed hits of bold colour - the most dramatic of which are the wet-room tiles. 'I loved the idea of Caroline waking up to this rich blue, which is offset perfectly by the glamourous gold fixtures and fittings,' explains designer Harriet Anstruther. The electric blue Bisazza tiles make a stand-out ensuite.

Suzy Hoodless, known for her mild eclecticism and smart monochrome backgrounds, designed this bold patterned bathroom. The geometric tiles create a sense of division and space, complemented by the brass taps and reclaimed wash stand.

Cement tiles are bespoke, but the 'Cube No. 65' from Emery & Cie is similar. Each tile is 20cm square and costs e138 a square metre. You can order any combination of three colours out of a dazzling array of 51.

This bathroom keeps things ultra sleek and modern with a frameless walk-in shower. The white subway tiles maintain this stylish minimalism. Annabelle Holland Design has cleverly made space for a double overhead rain shower - total luxury.

The bathroom of Pumphouse Point has a view from the windows that is emphasised by the black tiling. The modernisation within the hotel contrasts with its heritage-listed pastel façade. The matching black floor and wall tiles create a crisp contrast with the white painted wall and the inside of the bath.

Knowing that Edwins Bathrooms could provide everything they wanted, the owners of this house in France sourced all their bathroom fittings from the company in Notting Hill, and shipped them out. Pictured above is the 'Ove' double vanity basin by Kohler, £523, on a polished - chrome washstand, £481. Vibrant green zellige tiles by Emery & Cie enliven walls.

The owners of this London house called on interior designer Beata Heuman to create a family home full of fun, distinctive design and punchy colours. A highly original space, unapologetically theatrical and oozing energy. 'The owners are both artists. They have quite wild tastes and they love strong colours,' says Beata. The opulent, free-standing bath was copied from a Twenties design that Beata spotted in an old magazine. 'It was quite difficult to work out how to make it. Fortunately, we had a very good joiner and we discovered a specialist timber from the Netherlands that is used in boat building and can be submerged in water for 10 years without any ill effect.' The navy tiles on the wall create a dark dramatic background for the unique bathroom furnishings.

Interior designer Suzy Hoodless worked with the owners of this west-London town house to create a glamorous effect, using mid-century pieces and a dark colour palette that occasionally breaks in to splashes of brightness. In this bathroom petrol blue tiles have been paired with bright yellow rugs for a surprisingly graphic look.

Why not make a small bathroom the place where you experiment with the bold colour you're slightly afraid to put elsewhere? Take this tiny windowless room designed by Suzy Hoodless. Adhering to the time-honoured rule that if a room is already dark there is no off-white on earth that will change it, seductive black walls have been combined with good lighting, plenty of mirrors and chic, unfussy fittings. The scheme is anchored by monochrome cement tiles from Popham Design.

'This is the place where I recharge and reboot,' says fashion director and street-style star Pernille Teisbæk of her Copenhagen flat. She is sitting in her Copenhagen flat, located in the Frederiksberg district. 'Everyone who visits us says it's so calm here. Whenever I've been away and staying in a bunch of hotel rooms, it's always amazing to come back here for the space, light and energy. I feel very free here.' The minimalist home shows how Pernille's taste goes beyond her wardrobe, with a style that's natural, instinctive and playful, mixing vintage pieces with new finds to create a signature look that is all her own. The white bathroom has subway tiles and wooden furnishings, which add a natural feel to the space.

The bath in this bathroom is covered in the same blue tiles as the walls, creating a stylish seamless effect. (See our 20 favourite places to get patterned tiles for more ideas.) This industrial-style space is separated from a bedroom by a wooden partition behind the bed, creating flow between the rooms.

Owner Alastair Hendy has an uncanny talent for evoking the mood of the past - from his restored Tudor house to his charming Victorian-style shop in Hastings.

Although the small bathroom in this Paris flat designed by Tara Craig is compact, it is also elegant and feels spacious. The classical overtones provided by Catchpole & Rye fittings sit well with the rest of the home and feel appropriate for a building of this period. Metro-style tiles give it a crisp finish, while patterned flooring adds interest to the white room.

The owners of this Victorian terraced house in London turned their bedroom into a luxurious en-suite while renovating the house. They wanted the space to have warmth and colour, hence the bold choice of the coloured terracotta floor tiles in a mix of pink, soft grey, white, khaki and petrol blue. The statement bath from Drummonds was painted in a bespoke salmon pink to match the floor and teamed with classic brassware in un-lacquered solid brass. The wall on the right cleverly conceals a WC and a shower.

The bold, scenic 'Nuvole' wallpaper by Fornasetti (available through Cole & Son) creates a theatrical atmosphere in this bathroom styled by Gabby Deeming. The curtain is by Ottolie Stevenson for Vanners, with a brass curtain pole and hold-back from Wemyss Houles. The floor is Venetian marble from Lapicida, with the 'Hayon Organico' bath by Jamie Hayon for Bisazzo at C P Hart. The chair, from David Seyfried, is covered in 'Calla Lilies' by Rose Cummin from Dessin Fournir, available through Fromental.

This modern walk-in wetroom style shower in the home of interior designer Sarah Chambers features modern beige tiles that at first glance look like natural stone. In fact they are ceramic decorated with a flock design - a very pleasant surprise indeed!

This Victorian house in east London was a typical Eighties conversion, redesigned by Adam Bray to be comfortable and relaxing. The Twenties triptych mirror is gilt metal by Brot, Paris. Moroccan bathroom floor tiles from Habibi Interiors are deliberately mismatched for a patchwork effect.